Sydney Catholics Out-Sing Cathedral Gay Gig

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SYDNEY (ChurchMilitant.com) - Hundreds of Catholics prayed the Rosary and sang hymns outside Sydney's cathedral as a gay music gig authorized by the city's Catholic mayor performed in the forecourt of Australia's mother church Saturday.

The Heaps Gay queer show, organized as part of Sydney's Sunset Piazza pop-concert series, provoked outrage from Catholics for using cathedral imagery in its advertising and displaying a blasphemous image of a chalice and host turning into a cocktail.

But pro-LGBT media outfit Pedestrian TV lashed out at the "huge, deliberately-conspicuous prayer session" accusing organizers of attempting to "drown out" the concert.

"While the protesters didn't post anything explicitly homophobic, the context is pretty damning," Pedestrian TV wrote. "Yes, this is unfortunately still a thing in 2021."

Double Standard Questioned

Speaking to Church Militant, organizer Charlie Bakhos from Christian Lives Matter asked why it was "disrespectful for Christians to organize a peaceful prayer meeting outside our own church?"

"Why is it against the law for Christians to pray within 150 meters outside an abortion clinic, but okay for the LGBTQ+ community to hold an event within 50 meters of a church and use St. Mary's Cathedral name and picture on its flyer without permission from the Church?" Bakhos queried, explaining it was now illegal for pro-lifers to pray outside abortion mills.

"We didn't organize a protest but a Rosary outside a church as stated in our flyer," Bakhos, a Maronite Catholic, emphasized. "We will defend the Church no matter what. Christians have been persecuted for over 2,000 years. This isn't new to us."

Abp. Fisher: 'Respect' the Sacred

On Wednesday, Sydney archbishop Anthony Fisher protested against the LGBTQ+ show for using cathedral imagery, Church Militant Evening News reported, asking the City of Sydney to remove the cathedral image from the gay gig's advertising.

"It is frustrating and upsetting that St Mary's Cathedral, the mother church of Australia, has been used so provocatively to promote this event and such little sensitivity shown to people of faith," Abp. Fisher wrote on Facebook.

Fisher noted that "the Cathedral forecourt is council land and not church property" and so "the decision about the content of the concert and its advertising is unfortunately not ours to make."

The archbishop, who has warned against the abortion-tainted COVID-19 vaccine, urged Catholics to pray during Lent "that in our great and 'tolerant' city of Sydney, religious belief will be respected and protected and that we will all rediscover an appreciation for what is sacred."

Although pro-gay activists viciously attacked the archbishop for his appeal to respect the church's sanctity, city authorities caved in and removed the cathedral's image from the concert's advertising.

'Catholic' Mayor Promotes Anti-Catholic Event

Sydney's Mayor, Clover Moore, has relentlessly promoted the LGBTQ+ agenda, despite her claim of being "Catholic." A day before the concert, Moore posted pictures of the gay "rainbow" flag "flying high above Sydney Town Hall" marking the beginning of Mardi Gras.

Another picture shows her posing on the steps of the Town Hall with colleagues with a large LGBTQ+ flag.

Defending the Heaps Gay show, Moore insisted "there is no place for hate, intolerance or the sowing of division," and she would "continue to host inclusive, accessible and safe events" as the city center recovers from the pandemic.

The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered, it urges all Catholics to treat all people with respect, compassion and sensitivity.

Gospel, Rosary Proclaimed

At the prayer rally, Catholics erected banners with Bible verses proclaiming the Gospel: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him may not perish but have everlasting life."

After kneeling on cathedral steps to pray the Rosary, the group of mostly young faithful turned towards the concert marquee and began singing hymns including: "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom."

"They were trying to drown out the music with hymns," a performer told Pedestrian TV. "You could definitely see and hear the Christians."

Organizers told Church Militant that three traditionalist priests took part and Fr. Raymond Taouk led the recitation of the Rosary.

Jordan Raskopoulos, one of the hosts of the gay gig, earlier slandered Cdl. George Pell after the prelate was exonerated from child abuse allegations.

"I continue to believe that George Pell is a massive paedo," Raskopoulos, a biological male who transitioned into a "woman," tweeted.

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